Preliminary evaluation of preoperative chemohormonotherapy-induced reduction of the functional infrared imaging score in patients with locally advanced breast cancer

20 successive patients who received preoperative chemohormonotherapy (PCT) for locally advanced breast cancer underwent high resolution digital infrared imaging (IR) both before and after PTC and prior to surgery. The images were graded using a new scale. Initial pre-PCT IR imaging revealed obvious and often dramatic angiogenesis-related findings in all our patients. Following PCT, there was a significant decrease in both the IR score and in the clinical size of those with measurable disease. Four of the six patients with complete pathological response also saw their IR revert to normal. In nine patients, the elevated pre-PCT IR score lingered longer than the clinical findings. IR provides a very safe and convenient alternative functional imaging modality to monitor PCT. Further study and follow-up is required to assess whether the IR changes that reflect the effect of PCT on tumor vascularity also provide an additional valuable prognostic indicator for this subset of patients with aggressive tumors.